A Melbourne woman was arrested January 3 after contact was made with her regarding the purchase of methamphetamine. Latina Kurtley, age 40 of Melbourne offered to sell two grams of meth for two hundred dollars.. An undercover officer made contact with Kurtley, presented her with the money and she in return handed the undercover officer two plastic corner baggies containing a white crystalline substance. During the exchange Kurtley agreed to later provide the undercover officer with an additional quantity of meth in exchange for $250. Upon signaling to assisting deputies, Kurtley was immediately taken into custody and transported to the Izard County Detention Facility.

A field test of the substance indicated the substance was not methamphetamine and Kurtley said the substance was rock salt that she was trying to pass as methamphetamine. Kurtley said she did this because she needed the money. Kurtley was charged with delivery of a counterfeit substance, a class “c” felony. Bond was set for Kurtley in the amount of $5,000 which she posted and was given a January 13 Izard County Circuit Court date. Sheriff Tate Lawrence said the arrest and resulting charge were the combined efforts of the Izard County Sheriff’s Department and the 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force.